BELLY BUTTERFLIES

Solomon dusted his shoes, He picked up his phone from the couch in the living room. His daughter Alicia had gone for the holidays to his grandmother's place while his wife had gone to the groceries. He took a deep breath, a breath of freedom. It wasn't as if his family was an inconvenience to him, he was glad he would have more than enough time for himself. It was a Friday afternoon and according to norms, the bank he worked at closed by 1:00 pm. That's more than enough time to flex after an onerous week. He pulled off his socks and unbuckled his belt. He left his trouser to fall halfway almost touching his knees. He moved towards the television cabinet. "Holla! Thank God is Friday Nigga" He yelled, throwing his arms up in the air. He needed to ease himself of tension and stress from work, coupled with the fact that it was a bad day. His boss had insulted him and threatened a fire for coming late. It wasn't his fault. He had a flat tire on his way to the bank after taking Alicia to school. He had no choice but to park his car on the highway and take a bike off to work.

He crashed on the sofa and adjusted a throw pillow behind his shoulders. He turned the TV to his favorite; the Ellen DeGeneres show. He was excited to see who was interviewed on the show.

"Oh my! Kylie Kardashian! Wow," He was so excited and stunned to see a big TV star on the show. He rushed to the bar-room beside the dining room to get a cocktail. He planed he was gonna pop and enjoy the show to the fullest. After he poured into the royal glass and sipped,

The electricity went out.

"Oh, what the hell! What the actual f**k! Why would this bullshit be when a man is having his best moment? This unfortunate power holding company decided to ruin a happy man's joy." He tossed a throw pillow in annoyance and snapped his finger. He thought of an alternative. His generator was newly serviced by Sule who he paid heavily for his service. The problem was, there was no fuel. Trekking to a nearby filling station was about half an hour walk and his favorite show was barely that time so that would prove abortive. He would have gone in vain. He didn't have any active internet subscription to stream the show online so the only option he got was to give up. Solomon started perambulating about the house. It was quite obvious he was bored.

He slowly walked towards the sets of beautiful pictures by a corner of the Magnifique living room and started recurring beautiful memories. He had some rapturous reminiscences.

The first was a framed picture of his wife in lingerie on a beach at Daytona. That was long before he met her. She was an epitome of beauty, a perfect spec. She was a half cast of a British father and a Nigerian mother.

She got her beautiful fair-skin semblance from Mama Gloria! Alicia fondly called her grandmother. Next to it was a cute picture of Alicia, his daughter. She was in a uniform. There hung other numerous frames on the wall.

He was missing Selena already. His phone beeped in his pocket. It was a call from Selena.

"Hey baby" Solomon smiled

"My love" she replied.

"It's been a long-ass boring day here. I'm missing you like crazy. When you gonna come home?" He moved his arm across his head, stretching.

"Awww, like seriously? Where's Alice?"

"Babe, I told you I'm taking Alice to Granny's place. Have you forgotten today's Friday? She's not home"

"Oh yup, I forgot" she cut in. "Thank goodness. She was hell-bent on visiting Mama Gloria and she would never give me a moment of rest."

"Yes Selena" He cleared his throat and paused for a while.

"So baby we gotta have more than enough beautiful time for ourselves yeah?" He smiled.

"Yea, I guess, she's gonna be off throughout the holiday. Her school just vacated" she replied sharply.

"We gonna have a blossoming honeymoon tonight Selena. I'll fly you to the moon" He chuckled.

She smiled for a few seconds.

"Save me all of that jorr, I would be too tired then cos today has been too stressful". She replied, still smiling.

"Like really?"

"Yes baby, after taking Felix to the daycare, I had to branch to the fashion designer to check up on our clothes for our wedding anniversary. I'm at the mall now and the bucket list is quite long. The place is crowded, you know its Friday people gonna be buying in bulk for the weekend and all"

"I got you baby, just stay good"

"Kisses" she replied.

"Yunno I'm right here in front of your picture gazing at the goddess of beauty the Lord has given me for a wife" He blushed.

"Oh really, which of 'em?"

He raised up his arm and stretched them towards the frame carefully.

"The one at Daytona, long before I met you."

"Oh, like seriously?" She laughed hierarchically over the phone.

"You mean you are still admiring that old picture when I got so many new dope ones. You must be silly, babe."

"That never gets old" He replied

"What never gets old?

You know what babe, I'll call you back. I'm right in front of the payment counter, so got to pay off the bills." She cut in sharply.

"Ouch... Okay baby, so how much was the budget? "He asked scratching his head

The line went off.

"What the ..." He was devastated.

He was a man that really adored talking to his wife. He treasured every moment of convos with her. Their gists were always interesting, reasonable, and never-exhausting. It was like a fountain that never runs dry.

He bought the frame closer to his face and kissed it.

"I lorr you baby" This love was so Intimate, a fire ablaze in his heart. It was written all over him.

He felt as if Selena should just appear right in front of him and he should give a tight warm long-lasting hug.

She was his wife, friend, girlfriend, mother, sister, pastor, counselor, confidant, and soul mate all together metaphorically.

Now he longed for her to return home.